HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - This is the stuff of great television. This is the "where'd he come from?" of reality TV.

Justan Banks, averaging 2.2 points per game this season and an occasional source of vexation for the Alabama A&M coaching staff, found himself on national TV Monday night, with the ESPNU broadcast from Elmore Gym.

All Banks did was "have the best game of his career" according to coach Willie Hayes, as the Bulldogs zipped past Prairie View 67-55.

Reading off the stat sheet - 17 points, 7-for-8 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 blocked shots - "you can't ask for nothing better than that," Hayes continued. Well ... there is one more thing: "Stay humble and continue to do that."

Banks was hardly a one-man show. Green Hill scored 11 points - nine of those from the foul line - and had six assists. Jeremy Crutcher had 10 points and though he endured a bad shooting night only had two turnovers from the point-guard spot and had five assists.

Demondre Chapman led Prairie View with 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. John Brisco added 16, but the remainder of the Panthers' starting lineup amassed one point in a combined 73 minutes.

The Bulldogs (8-11 overall, 5-4 in the SWAC) hit the road to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday, then it's on to Mississippi Valley on Monday before a Feb. 15 home date with Alabama State. A&M will have played 10 of its last 14 games, dating back to Dec. 14, on the road but finishes with four of six at home, perhaps an edge as it jockeys for position in the SWAC standings.

"This was a big win for us," Hayes said. "You have to take care of things at home and hope you can split on the road. To sweep is great, but a split is OK."

Hayes sensed that the Bulldogs began to develop something of a home-court advantage early in Saturday's 63-62 victory over Texas Southern.

"I think the guys were just glad to finally get home," Hayes said.

Though the 8 p.m. start left Elmore Gym less than half-filled, the seemingly comfortable Bulldogs rushed out to a 12-3 lead by the 12:46 mark and were up 27-21 at halftime. But A&M got a little lackadaisical, scoring only one basket in a 7:46 span, and Prairie View was able to tie the game at 30-all and take a lead at 36-34.

A dismayed Hayes briefly benched his regulars, inserting a fresh lineup of Tyler Davis, Green Hill, Jerome Hunter, Justin Colvin and Jose Long that gave A&M a little more energy and kept the lead safe.

Then Banks slammed home a huge dunk and made a pair of jumpers in a 9-1 span that gave A&M a 10-point cushion going into the final four minutes. There, the Bulldogs were 10-for-11 on free throws; Banks had a key block and Demarquelle Tabb a big steal to turn it into a last-minute blowout.